And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV)
When they arrived in Bethlehem, Mary went into labor, and there she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped the newborn baby in strips of cloth, and Mary and Joseph laid him in a feeding trough since there was no available space in any upper room in the village. (Luke 2:6-7 TPT)
Tonight we celebrate the miracle of the virgin birth of the Messiah—Jesus, our Savior. The word miracle is used in many contexts, but not all miracles are equal, so to speak. The Detroit Lions winning the Super Bowl would feel like a huge miracle to fans, but finding a tiny lost object in a messy room or securing a good parking spot at a crowded mall might also be tiny miracles. Yet none of these compare to the miracle of God himself coming to earth as a tiny, helpless infant.
A couple of years ago I watched a Christmas movie based on a Max Lucado book – “The Christmas Candle.” Set in the village of Gladbury, England in the late 1800’s, the townspeople believe that every 25 years an angel comes to the village candlemaker, touches a single candle, and the person who lights that candle will receive a miracle on Christmas Eve. In the movie the new, forward-thinking pastor tries to convince the townspeople this is all superstition, but, in the end, many people end up with candles and their miracles. Some of the “miracles” that happen are a result of townspeople stepping in to care for and love each other. Other miracles can be explained only by the Presence and Mystery of God.
Susan Boyle recorded the song “Miracle Hymn” which played an important part in telling the story. Here are some of the lyrics:
There are miracles all around
Miracles yet to be found
Hid in every heart is an answered prayer
Like a candle’s flame, hope will lead us there
And the darkness comes, let the light shine through
A spark of flame will ignite in you
In a candle’s glow, a virgin’s womb
In a simple prayer in the empty tomb
There are miracles all around
Miracles yet to be found
Hid in every heart is an answered prayer
Like a candle’s flame, hope will lead us there*
On a holy night like tonight, I hope we will each pause to reflect on miracles in our lives. Where can you say you have definitively seen God’s miraculous power at work in your life? And where are you praying for a miracle? I pray that tonight the Hope you have in Jesus Christ will show you the miracles you need to see.
Miracle Worker,
Thank you for the beauty and wonder of the best gift and miracle of all: Jesus Christ. Tonight we ask you help us be mindful of all the miracles in our lives, and to hold on to hope for the ones we have not seen yet. We ask in Jesus’s name, AMEN.
*Songwriters: Candace Lee / Luke Thomas Atencio
Miracle Hymn lyrics © Yell Music Limited (clipper S)